Jade Agard Design

Everyone's posting "Made by a human is the new luxury," but what does it actually mean for your client work? I looked at the research and shared where it holds up and where I cannot confirm it. Do you show clients your sketches and decision notes, or keep the process behind the scenes? Tell me below.

Imperfect by Design: Why Your Design Process Still Matters More in the AI Era Your design process is your biggest advantage as AI polish gets easy. See what 2026 trend reports and research say, and how to show your process.

The amount of AI used for design is astonishing and disheartening. I’ve seen both real design made by humans and by an AI all be labeled as AI.

A creator even showed themselves in their content and people said that she also looked like AI. So if something is really well done people think it’s AI.

Messy design makes you feel like it’s real but for creatives that have mastered their craft so they look very professional messy design is actually very challenging to do. But if we want to stand out and keep our connection with people we need to show our messy work. The behind the scenes. The chaotic project files and not just the final product. We have to show the thinking behind our designs.

It could be frustrating but honestly I think this could be great for us and show the value of our work, our thinking and our skill.

Since you've been asking, here's what's actually inside the Brand Presentation Template.

And I want to be real with you because I know how many templates out there look good in the preview and then become a whole project to actually use. This one is not that.

The structure is already done. Brand strategy, creative direction, brand values, audience insights, visual direction, mockups. Every section a solid client presentation needs is already laid out and waiting for your content. You're not starting from a blank slide and hoping it comes together.

It also works in Illustrator, InDesign, Adobe Express, and Affinity, so whatever your setup is, you're covered.
And every template I make comes with a companion guide that walks you through how to fill out each section, including AI prompts if that's part of your process.

If you've been spending hours formatting slides or second-guessing how to present your strategy work, this is the part where that stops. Link in bio 🔗

Ever had a client relationship that just wasn't working anymore? You're not alone, and you're allowed to end it professionally. New post on how to fire a client the right way, without burning bridges or your reputation.

How to Fire a Client: A No-Drama Guide for Designers Learn how to fire a client the right way: what to say, when to say it, and how to protect your business and reputation in the process.

If your studio software costs have crept up this year, you're not imagining it. I went through every design studio subscription I was paying for and found free replacements for most of my client process, from intake forms to invoicing to design software itself. What's the one subscription you'd cut first if you could? Full post is up on the blog.

How to Run a Design Studio Without a Million Subscriptions Running a one-person design studio? Here's exactly what to automate first, what to leave alone, and the tools that make it worth your time.

guys can we talk about pricing for a sec

because if you're anything like me a few years ago, you're either guessing your rates or googling "how much should I charge as a designer" at 1am 😅

I built the Services & Pricing Guide template because I was so tired of clients asking "so what's included" and me fumbling through an explanation in real time on a discovery call. Not a good look when you're trying to sound like the expert in the room.

This template lays out your services, your pricing, and what's actually included in each package in a way that looks polished and feels intentional. No more scrambling to explain your process while a potential client is staring at you waiting for numbers.

And the companion guide walks you through how to actually price your services with confidence, not just what to charge but why, so you're not leaving money on the table or undercharging out of fear.

Literally the two things I wish I had when I was starting out, bundled together so you don't have to figure it out the hard way like I did.

If you've ever gone quiet mid-sentence trying to explain your pricing to a client, this is your sign.

Link in bio to grab it 🤍

Ever sent a branding proposal and then spent the next three days refreshing your inbox? Same. Turns out it's almost never the design work that makes clients hesitate, it's pricing clarity. New post is up with what actually belongs in a proposal that gets signed (and where a design contract fits in too). Anyone else relate to the post-send spiral?

How to Write a Branding Proposal Clients Actually Say Yes To A branding proposal don't get rejected over design skill. It gets rejected over pricing clarity. Here's how to fix that before you hit send.

Have you seen Instagram's new logo yet? The internet's already nicknamed it "Instagzam" because of how the new letterforms connect. I broke down what actually changed in the redesign and, more importantly, how to test your own logo's legibility before it ever reaches a client's inbox. Have you run into a legibility surprise on a logo after it was already finalized? Would love to hear how you caught it (or didn't) in the comments.

When a Logo Redesign Backfires: The Instagram Wordmark Legibility Problem Instagram's new logo has people reading "Instagzam." Here's the logo legibility mistake behind it, and how to test yours before you ship it to a client.

Confession: my first client questionnaire had twenty questions, and I got a lot of "modern but timeless" answers because of it. I cut it down to twelve, sorted into five categories, and the answers I get now are so much more usable. One question in particular ended up completely changing the direction of a project once a client answered it honestly. Curious what questions you ask before starting a brand project, drop them below!

The Questions I Ask Every Client Before Starting a Brand Project The real brand strategy questionnaire I use with every client, the story behind it, and why shorter and sharper beats long every time.

Okay I have to talk about this because y'all keep asking. I made the actual switch from Adobe to Affinity for my brand process and I'm sharing the real breakdown, not just a features chart. The shortcuts that tripped me up, the font thing I somehow didn't see coming, and the one issue I'm still working around when I hand files off to other designers. If you've been going back and forth on Affinity vs Adobe, this one's for you. Link in the comments 👇

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